The limited scope of Peter King's 'radical' hearings

By
Jonathan Capehart

In defending his upcoming hearing on homegrown Muslim terrorists and "radical Islam," Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) said yesterday that Attorney General Eric Holder "is not saying he's staying awake at night because of what's coming from anti-abortion demonstrators or coming from environmental extremists or from Neo-Nazis. It's the radicalization right now in the Muslim community." That may be true about Holder. But there's no question the federal government is concerned about right-wing and left-wing terrorists. In fact, there are two reports to prove it.

King, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, has blinders on when it comes to home-grown extremism. While he is right to worry about and call attention to radicalization grabbing a footholdamong some in the Muslim community, King has ignored or eviscerated evidence of other forms of Made-in-the-U.S.A radicalism.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano came under unrelenting (and unfair, I might add) criticism from King and other Republicans for a report requested by the Bush administration and released in April 2009 entitled, "Right Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment."

The assessment warned that the economic downturn and the historic election of the first black president were factors in the revival of right-wing extremism not seen since the days before the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. And it warned that "lone wolves," the particularly unhinged who take action on their anti-establishment, anti-government views, was a particular concern. (Think Austin and Tucson.) And it noted that "disgruntled military veterans" were ripe targets for extremist recruiters because of their training and expertise.

Based on an analysis of previous limited attacks, both cyber and noncyber, and on the prospective growing advantages of cyber attacks in the future, DHS/I&A judges that potential targets likely will expand to include a broader set of organizations and critical infrastructure that extremists associate with harming animals and degrading the natural environment, as well as icons of capitalism and authority.

So, we have right-wing extremists who want to destabilize if not overthrow the government and left-wing extremists who want to destabilize if not destroy the social order and said government's financial underpinings. Pity King can't work up the same ferocity for these radicals that he has for those who pervert a religion to justify similar mayhem.

Do pay attention Jonathan... King is holding hearings to find out the who, what, where and why young muslims are becoming more and more radical and potentially doing something bad like oh, I don't know...BLOWING US UP MAYBE! This is a phenomena throughout Europe and is in it's early stages here, so It is about time someone had the guts to look into it. It's not about left wing or right wing you partisan hack! it's about protecting Americans.

There are lots of threats here in the US that have nothing to do with Muslims or Islam. However as long as these bigots continue to relive Nazi Germany, then we will continue seeing these hearings and same hateful speech in the media.

King's only object in holding these "hearings" is to gin up anti-Muslim sentiment heading into the 2012 campaign - at which time he and his ilk undoubtedly will claim they (nudge-nudge) "take the president at his word" when he says he's a Christian" and (wink-wink) that "the copies of his birth certificate that have been made available to the public appear to be legitimate."

A light observation there is admittedly a problem with both right wing and left wing extremism. But I will note that in the U.S. terror attacks from the left or the right has been far rarer in recent times than those from religious extremists whom have managed to rack a particularly bloody toll. That said I will add in the observation that a clear majority of recent domestic terrorism incidents have had their root in Islamic extremism. And in one particularly appalling case (Fort Hood shootings) the desire to avoid even the appearance of bias resulted in a tragedy that could have been averted.

More people have been killed in traffic accidents on July 4 weekend since 9/11 than were killed on 9/11. Ten times as many people were killed in traffic accidents last year than were killed on 9/11. Do you see the disproportionate response to 9/11?

Oklahoma City and 9/11 have been used as a justification for a budding domestic police state and American Imperialism. The real terrorism is American warfare in Iraq and Afghanistan. See "Casualties of the Iraq War" in Wikipedia.

Open your eyes and think for yourself. It's important that we don't let these idiots start WW3.

Two elderly Sikhs mistaken for Muslims shot, one fatally, from a pickup truck while walking down their street. The other Sikh is in critical condition.

Sikhs shot in Calif. may have been mistaken for Muslims
By Michael Winter, USA TODAY
Mar 07, 2011
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2011/03/sikhs-shot-in-calif-may-have-been-mistaken-for-muslims/1

Before a controversial congressional hearing on the "radicalization" of the U.S. Islamic community set for Thursday, Indians in Northern California fear that two elderly Sikhs gunned down Friday on their afternoon walk may have been mistaken for Muslims, The Sacramento Bee reports.

King's looking into radical Islam in America;; GOOD So why should that be faulted just because there might be idiot Americans who terrorize others?
Islam is insane. They teach it is ok to rape and sodomize little girls.Ayatollah Khomeini's Religious Teachings on Marriage, Divorce and Relationships; "A man can marry a girl younger than nine years of age, even if the girl is still a baby being breastfed. A man, however is prohibited from having intercourse with a girl younger than nine, other sexual act such as foreplay, rubbing, kissing and sodomy is allowed.”
Following idiot mohaMAD, today still practiced;

King's looking into radical Islam in America;; GOOD So why should that be faulted just because there might be idiot Americans who terrorize others?
Islam is insane. They teach it is ok to rape and sodomize little girls.
Following idiot mohaMAD, today still practiced;
Ayatollah Khomeini's Religious Teachings on Marriage, Divorce and Relationships; "A man can marry a girl younger than nine years of age, even if the girl is still a baby being breastfed. A man, however is prohibited from having intercourse with a girl younger than nine, other sexual act such as foreplay, rubbing, kissing and sodomy is allowed.”

What I find truly interesting about any discussion about Islam with non-Muslim Americans is how much they think they know about the Koran and its teachings. What is most apparent from many of the comments here is that many of us have not read the Koran or for that matter the Bible. Because if we were entering this discussion from a point of having some insight into the Islam of Muhammed the discourse would would be much different. the Bin Ladens of the the world are no better reflections of the true nature of Islam than the Inqusitors of the Catholic church were a true representation of the teachings of Christ. Both have used religion as a front to sieze power and/or wealth and that's all.

More people have been killed in traffic accidents on July 4 weekend since 9/11 than were killed on 9/11. Ten times as many people were killed in traffic accidents last year than were killed on 9/11. Do you see the disproportionate response to 9/11?

Oklahoma City and 9/11 have been used as a justification for a budding domestic police state and American Imperialism. The real terrorism is American warfare in Iraq and Afghanistan. See "Casualties of the Iraq War" in Wikipedia.

Open your eyes and think for yourself. It's important that we don't let these idiots start WW3.

Posted by: independent123 | March 7, 2011 6:27 PM | Report abuse
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Well captain oblivious, need I point out that not one of those car wrecks were caused by islamic pukes flying hijacked planes into them....they were accidents. Wherever in the world you find islam...you find murder and strife. The cult of death is not compatible with American ideals.

Nothing like staging a Joe McCarthy show for the benefit of the bed-wetters on the right.

Sure is a lot of fear on the right these days but then again that's all they have left since all their ideas have failed and failed miserably.
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Nothing to add. You said it perfectly.

Yes, there is radicalization in America but it isn't coming from the Muslim community. It's coming from the Right.

SPLC released an update on Feb 23 of their report on the growth of hate groups:

SPLC Hate Group Count Tops 1,000 as Radical Right Expansion Continues

For the second year in a row, the radical right in America expanded explosively in 2010, driven by resentment over the changing racial demographics of the country, frustration over the government’s handling of the economy, and the mainstreaming of conspiracy theories and other demonizing propaganda aimed at various minorities. For many on the radical right, anger is focusing on President Obama, who is seen as embodying everything that’s wrong with the country.

When asked why he robbed banks, Willie Sutton famously replied, "Because that's where the money is". Analogously, that's why Peter King is investigating homegrown Muslim extremists! No amount of politically-correct, ultraliberal obfuscation will alter the fact that Muslim extremist terrorism, actual or planned, is by far the biggest threat of that type to the U.S.

When asked why he robbed banks, Willie Sutton famously replied, "Because that's where the money is". Analogously, that's why Peter King is investigating homegrown Muslim extremists! No amount of politically-correct, ultraliberal obfuscation will alter the fact that Muslim extremist terrorism, actual or planned, is by far the biggest threat of that type to the U.S.

to "runner"/faux real/observer: do you three empty-headed twits really enjoy being ridiculed, made sport of & thought to be FOOLS of the 1st rank?

obviously you must, as all three of you have:
1. evidently NOTHING of IMPORTANCE to say
AND
2.the bilgewater that you spew out on to this forum is fact-FREE, thought-FREE & (at best) semi-literate.

laughing AT you.

NOTE to ALL: anyone who believes anything promoted by Morris Dees & the rest of his cheap, scheming, money-hungry, shysters at the so-called "southern poverty law center" are to be PITIED as mentally deficient, rather than despised.
(the "splc" is a MONEY MACHINE that targets the STUPID, the leftist lunatic fringe & exists solely to make $$$$$$$ off of the clue-LESS & terminally ignorant members of "the progressive movement".)

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